Eva Valle considers that the current wording of the regulation seriously jeopardizes “the development of key 21st-century infrastructure” for Europe, Spain and particularly Aragón, given the large number of committed investments. She also added that the requirements fall far short of striking a balance between sustainability and “economic, technical and legal viability.”
IMPOSSIBLE REQUIREMENTS
According to the minister, the main problem is that the regulation establishes energy requirements that are “almost impossible to meet with the technology available and the current configuration of Spain’s electricity system,” making them “a material restriction.”
She particularly pointed to the obligation to cover 80% of electricity consumption through newly developed renewable generation, adding that this requirement must be met hour by hour. In her view, this is currently impossible, especially at night.
“In practice, it is not a mechanism for regulating the sector, as the royal decree theoretically intends, but rather an entry barrier,” she said. The objections therefore call for these requirements to be reduced, although Eva Valle declined to provide a figure: “We are not in a position to determine percentages. That is the Ministry’s responsibility.”
ARAGON GOVERNMENT SAYS IT AFFECTS PROJECTS ALREADY UNDER DEVELOPMENT
Another problem Valle highlighted is that the measure has significant retroactive effects. Once approved, it will affect both new investments and projects already at advanced stages of development. She warned of “significant legal uncertainty” and possible compensation claims against the state. For these reasons, the Aragon government is calling for implementation to be more gradual.
The Economy Minister also noted that the regulation would introduce a regime for data centers in Spain that is more restrictive than those in the rest of Europe, where countries are opting for more flexible requirements. In her view, this could lead investments initially intended for Spain to move to neighboring regions.
The final issue highlighted by Eva Valle is the economic report assessing the impact of the royal decree. The Government of Aragón “deeply” questions it because it does not include a rigorous assessment and is therefore demanding a thorough evaluation of its effects on employment and economic activity, particularly in the areas most affected, such as the Aragonese region. “If you look at the report, there is not a single figure,” she added.
Regarding the future of the data centers arriving in Aragón—some of which are already under construction—Eva Valle said that “it is up to each company to communicate its own decisions,” but acknowledged that “the royal decree places investments such as those by Blackstone, Azora and Microsoft in Puerto Venecia and Villamayor de Gállego, among others, completely at risk.”
